By Dr Jaspreet Saini. Published . Updated .
Last reviewed 2026-10-18
One of the most common reasons adults living with ADHD lose continuity of treatment is the script itself. Regulatory paperwork, appointment availability and pharmacy stock all have to line up, every month, for a medication many people take every day.
How the NSW pathway works now
ADHD psychostimulant medicines are Schedule 8 medicines in NSW, which means prescribing is tightly regulated. GPs who have completed the NSW endorsement training can now assess and diagnose ADHD, start treatment and adjust it. GPs who are not endorsed may still be able to provide a diagnostic assessment for ADHD. However, they cannot initiate ADHD medication. To continue medication started by a specialist, they must be ADHD Continuation Prescribers.
In practice, this means the first useful question to ask a practice is whether your GP is endorsed for ADHD, or an ADHD Continuation Prescriber who can continue it. The answer shapes who can make changes to your medication and how quickly.
Why scripts run late
Most delays have one of three causes. The prescriber may not be able to change or continue the treatment, so the script has to go back to someone else. The review may be booked too late, so the script lapses before the appointment. Or the pharmacy may be out of stock, and a different pharmacy may need a new script. Each of these can be anticipated.
How to set things up so they hold
Know who is responsible for your prescribing, and whether they can make changes. Book the next review before the current script runs low, ideally at the end of each appointment. Use a regular pharmacy that knows your medication and can order stock ahead. Ask your prescriber how script duration and repeats can be arranged where that is clinically appropriate. Small arrangements like these are often the difference between treatment that holds and treatment that keeps breaking.
A script you can rely on is the baseline of ADHD treatment.
Sources
This article is general information, not personal medical advice. Speak with your own doctor about your situation.